Early Childhood Resources- Math and Manipulative Center

Goal: Observe shapes in natural and built environments

Part 1 – Tangrams

A tangram is a Chinese puzzle.

Children can reassemble the geometric pieces into squares, rectangles, and many other shapes. They can also use the pieces to create their own designs and label them.

Part 2 – Twig Shapes

Provide twigs cut into many lengths that the children can use to form into shapes. Shape patterns are provided as guides if you want to use models.

Specific instructions and guiding questions for this center

• For this workshop, tangrams are bagged in sets. Each participant may take one set home.! How might you organize the tangrams in your classroom center?

• “Students” may work together, combining sets, to form designs.

• Can you think of other ways to use the twigs – besides making shapes?

Materials:

• Tangrams (individually bagged)

• Example of a tangram making a shape and glued on paper

• Twigs

• Shapes papers in printed from www.plt.org

• Sample of tangram pattern from www.plt.org

• Instruction sheet for Math and Manipulative Center

• Dish drainer